Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.
Question: Do you take advantage of chapter previews?
Answer: BEA and ALA started shifting more to chapter books instead of arc’s for their bigger titles a few years ago and I am not a fan of those or the teasers.
I’ve found a lot of them end on cliffhangers (obviously, because it’s good marketing) or are misleading.
They tend to be the most swoony or action packed scenes but the rest of the story doesn’t match the tone when you finally get to the book.
I’d rather wait until the full book comes out and decide then.
*And...thinking about it more since I first drafted this lol - It sometimes takes me 2-5 chapters to find a connection to the story - so I can't decide yay or nay with a sample anyway.
I think I got this question wrong...I answered it with sneak peeks (the one you find on Amazon) in mind. Then again, why would BEA and ALA hand chapter previews around? I mean...in terms of sustainability, that's a terrible idea.
ReplyDeleteYou got it right!! I'm just referring to something that BEA/ALA started doing a few years ago at the cons. Instead of full arc's - they were handing out chapter books - so you would wait in your line then not a get a full book.
DeleteBut even with the teasers or samples - I just don't find them useful for the reasons I said above. I don't think they're a clear picture of the book and it takes me a while to warm up to a story sometimes so not liking the sample doesn't mean I wouldn't like the book or vice versa.
My thing is that time is precious, and I cannot see reading a book, that I know I will not be able to finish. I remember being said at the cons, after waiting in line to find out I was only get part of the book. BOO!
ReplyDeleteI buy very few books so I guess it's not an issue for me. With a library book or arc - I'll just dnf. Yeah - those chapter books are the pits. Especially if they don't tell you first and you waste 2 hours waiting in line.
DeleteI don't either. I'll read an excerpt but not an entire chapter.
ReplyDeleteThat might make me investigate further but I don't bother with excerpts either. Like I said, I find a lot of them to be misleading and then get pissed when the book is totally different lol
DeleteI’ve never been a big fan of teaser chapters, whether it’s a giveaway book or the first chapter of a new release included at the end of another book. I like starting a new book fresh without any prior knowledge. Sometimes even going in blind without reading the synopsis.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people use them so they don't waste money on a book but I don't find them useful in that regard. They usually don't represent the book or writing. At least in the instances that I had given them ma go.
DeleteI'm kinda the same- a chapter is often not enough to know, I need a few to really like or dislike a book I guess. Although I guess sometimes when I see a preview chapter in the back of a book it does whet my appetite sometimes... I guess it depends lol.
ReplyDeleteFair enough lol I might read one at the end of a book for the next one in a series because then I can just buy it right then if it looks good.
DeleteI'm never interested in reading sample chapters. I've never made use of ASOI&F chapters released on the internet. I'd rather wait and read the whole book.
ReplyDeleteSame
DeleteYes, they do pick the best ones and a crappy book can still have a few good pages, just nope
ReplyDeleteThey tend to pick either the best part or something that seems like a big deal/or a twist but isn't once you read the book. I have trust issues lol
DeleteTOTALLY agree with you. I detest them. The only time I *might* consider one is if it's on Kindle and I can just buy the thing right after and I had been really on the fence. That is literally it. Otherwise they are so annoying, and a huge waste of promotional money if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteYeah - I have done that with Kindle books. Mostly romance series - so I'm already familiar with the characters/author and I just buy it as soon as a finish the sample - or nope out if I don't like the set up lol
DeleteAll great points. I would be irritated to receive a sample that ended in a cliffhanger - or worse, was misleading. It's like when you see a movie trailer and they put the best part in the trailer and the movie is a dud.
ReplyDeleteI get why they do a cliffie teaser - it's to get you interested to pre-order/buy but it just irritates me. Especially if I can't read the full book for months.
DeleteI don't mind previews (as long as I know it's a preview) for I'll read it in the days leading up to the release of the actual book. That way I can just buy the book - if I like it - and keep on reading. It's like getting a head start on the book itself.
ReplyDeleteI object when I don't know what I'm getting. I don't like the feeling of being duped nor do I like getting drawn into a story and having to wait months on the rest of it.
I don't read chapter things like this at all... not even when they are in the back of the book published for the sequel. I want all or nothing :D
ReplyDelete